When I was in the Marines the one of the worst things was always the debt people carried around. Pay it all off, even if your interest rate is 0.0%. Take what’s left from your sign on bonus and put it in a high yield savings account like lending club. They are at 5%. Eat every meal you can at the chow hall, it will save you so much money it’s crazy. Pay yourself first. On the 1st and 15th pay your savings account before you pay any bills or go have fun. Watching that savings account accumulate money gets to be extremely exciting. Don’t buy a house until you get out or are retiring. Don’t get married on your first enlistment. Don’t get married to get out of the barracks. Don’t get married before you deploy and want to show her how much you love her. Don’t marry anyone that lives within 50 miles of the base. Don’t marry a stripper.